Genetic constraints on temporal variation of airborne reflectance spectra and their uncertainties over a temperate forest

Remote sensing enhances large-scale biodiversity monitoring by overcoming temporal and spatial limitations of ground-based measurements allows assessment multiple plant traits simultaneously. The total set their variation over time is specific for each individual can reveal information about the genetic composition forest communities. Measuring trait among individuals one species continuously across space a key component in diversity but difficult to achieve with methods. approaches using imaging spectroscopy provide high spectral, spatial, coverage advance diversity, if sufficient relation between spectral be established. We assessed reflectance spectra from Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) trees acquired eleven years 69 flights Airborne Prism Experiment (APEX) above same temperate Switzerland. derived 68 canopy correlated differences these microsatellite markers individuals. calculated correlations different points time, wavelength regions relative regions. High indicate spectral-genetic similarities. then tested influence environmental variables obtained at scales days on performed an uncertainty propagation radiance quality indicator correlations. observed that genetically similar had more spectra, this varied variables. short-wave infrared spectrum, influenced water absorption, seemed population structure temperatures, whereas visible part near-infrared region affected scattering properties tree canopies, showed consistent patterns longer scales. Correlations similarity were easier detect when investigating bands (maximum correlation: 0.40) than data 0.33). Incorporating uncertainties yielded improvements similarities 36% 20% analyses based single bands, respectively. This study highlights potential dense multi-temporal airborne suggest trajectories physiological possibly constraints responses change.